St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-06-11
The second plan avoids this difficulty, but

The second plan avoids this difficulty, but
introduces invidious distinctions, and seldom
or never fails of creating jealousies, envy
| ings and bitterness. These plans are both
alike open to the objection that the speeches
and essays of members of the graduating
class are, in the nature of things, rarely of
| any value or interest to an audience. the
personal friends of the speakers excepted.
The third plan, that of inviting an emf
nent man to deliver the commencement ad-
dress, commends itself in numerous ways to
consideration. 1t is open to none of the
objections urged against the others. 1t
makes the occasion of general interest to an
intelligent audience; dignifies the anniver-
sary, and while it saves the audience from
| the crude and often painful oratorical at
tempts of youths, it relieves the members of
the class from the nervous worry and tedious
preparation for an effort which destroys the
solid comfort of the last days of college life.
The Collegiate Sorosis of the University of
Michigan approves the plan of a commence
ment address by distinguished individual,
invited for the occasion. The influence O.
the address is. likely to be permanent ant
valuable alike to students, alumni and visit
orS.
Charles NJ. Gayley, assistant professor 0:
Latin in the University of Michigan-Thinks
the method adopted by the University of
Michigan forts commemorative an
address by man of scholarly eminence-i:
decidedly preferable to the old-time com
mencement. 1t is more instructive and more
EaI nd coficfoo+orv
to both students and professors. Above all,
it avoids that invidiousness of choosing
few speakers from large class, which is en-
tirely non-democratic and inconsistent with
the principles of the university.
Professors Hudson, Adams and Rogers all
express a decided preference for the COM
mencement address by eminent men rather
than the speeches from mem bers of the class.
In fact there is remarkable unanimity of
opinion on the subject here, professors and
students believing the plan pursued at the
University of Michigan in regard to COM
mencement exercises is beyond comparison
superior to the usual custom Of colleges in
this particular.
The University Of Michigan inaugurated
the new plan for its commandments in 1878.
Hon. G. V. N. Lathrop, then the leading
lawyer of Michigan, and at present United
States minister to Russia was invited to give
the commencement address that year, and
his scholarly address has been followed each
year since then by equally able ones of men
eminent in various fields of learning and of
action.
Mr.. F. C. Hicks, class of 'S6, University
Of Michigan and now principal of the La
Porte Ind.) High School, thinks the single
commencement address decidedly the most
desirable form-less trouble for the seniors,
who would otherwise, if elected as COM
mencement speakers, have to spend the last
weeks of the college year practicing their ora
tons in the woods; more attractive also
for visitors as we'll as for the members of the
college. The method is being adopted in the
high schools of Michigan.
The wife of Professor Bragdon, of Auburn
dale (Lasell Seminary writes IN his absence
"Our girls read no essays at commence
ments, and do not dress, think, in the bad
competitive sense of that term. Their dress
is often white, because it is summer, but it is
not uniformly or necessarily so; and it is al
ways simple, frequently of their own cutting
and making. Our commencement is really
only a social gathering Of parents and pupils,
with chapel meeting for some last words
of good counsel from those qualified to
give it, and make it memorable"
The work for the works sake, the true
basis Of all good work, is the principle
which the best teachers are trying to in
culcate, and the best pupils recognize, as
containing the highest stimulus-that
which lays the foundation for future
most useful and honorable. There are
plenty of roads to petty public distinc-
tions, plenty of temptation to the sacri
flee of the genuine good to the spirit of
ambition and display. But the teacher
should, as far as possible, stimulate and
preserve integrity and the true spirit of
emulation in the young and plastic
minds of pupils, for their personal in
huence in this direction is one of the
most potential forces in the formation Ct
material for the building up of the future
JENNY JUNE.